Greenhouse

ABSTRACT

A greenhouse comprising two roof halves ( 4, 4 ′) together forming a roof ( 3 ) of V-shaped cross-section, which can be moved between a closed position and an open position, a special feature of said greenhouse being the fact that the roof ( 4, 4 ′) can be moved independently of each other both in upward and in downward direction relative to the closed position within certain limits.

The invention relates to a greenhouse comprising two roof halvestogether forming a roof of V-shaped cross-section, which can be movedbetween a closed position and an open position.

Such a greenhouse, also referred to as “Dutch-type greenhouse”, is knownfrom French patent no. 2,097,978 (Henssler). The greenhouse that isdisclosed therein comprises a roof which consists of two roof halveswhich are movable with respect to each other, each roof half beingpivotable about a pivot pin on its side facing towards a roof-gutter andbeing connected to a lever linkage on its side facing towards a ridgebeam. Said lever linkage is mounted on a shaft which extends parallel tothe ridge beam. Rotation of the shaft makes it possible to move the roofbetween a closed position and an open position.

One drawback of the greenhouse that is known from the aforesaid Frenchpatent specification the fact that the roof can only be opened in onespecific direction, so that the roof cannot be opened in all weatherconditions. In particular rain, hail, snow and the like can easily enterthe greenhouse via the open roof when the wind direction isunfavourable, with all the adverse consequences thereof for the cropsthat are being cultivated in the greenhouse. In addition, the knowngreenhouse only allows a limited roof opening.

The object of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the priorart, that is, to provide a greenhouse or “Dutch-type greenhouse” whoseroof can be opened in all weather conditions, with an ideal roof openingbeing realised for optimally airing the interior of the greenhouse.

In order to accomplish that objective, a greenhouse of the kind referredto in the introduction is according to the invention characterized inthat the roof halves can be moved independently of each other both inupward and in downward direction relative to the closed position withincertain limits. In their respective open positions, the roof halves,which can each be moved (independently of each other) between the openposition and the closed position, are preferably inclined at an anglevarying between −10° and +60° with respect to with the closed position.The possibility of independent movement of one roof half with respect tothe other has this advantage that the greenhouse can be opened in allweather conditions. Surprisingly, tests have shown that ideally, the tworoof halves, which together form the V-shaped (in cross-section) roofshould include an angle of 20–30°, preferably about 25°, with eachother, so that an optimum balance is reached between two requirements:on the one hand, the area of the glass roof must be as small aspossible, so that as little sunlight as possible is blocked by the glass(which would be an argument in favour of using a flat roof), whilst onthe other hand the roof must provide optimum drainage, in particular ofrain, in lateral direction (which would be an argument in favour of amaximally peaked roof). In the case of such an ideal angle between thetwo roof halves forming the roof of V-shaped cross-section, this meansthat a roof half in question can extend (substantially) upright withrespect to the horizontal, for example, in the claimed angle range ofits open position.

In one preferred embodiment of a greenhouse according to the invention,the roof halves can each be pivoted between the closed position and theopen position about a pivot pin which is disposed near a gutterextending along one side of the roof. Said gutter preferably includes asection extending in the longitudinal direction thereof, with which asection of one roof half pivotally mates. More in particular, this meansthat the section of a roof half is pivotally accommodated in the sectionof the gutter, or vice versa, that is, that the section of the gutter ispivotally accommodated in the section of a roof half. The section of aroof half may pivotally mate with a longitudinal section which is notattached to the gutter, but to a separate support near the gutter.

In another preferred embodiment of a greenhouse according to theinvention, an elongated supporting member is pivotally connected to aroof half near a first end and to an underlying support (for example asupporting beam) near a second end, the length of said supporting memberbeing adjustable. Preferably, the length of the supporting member ismade infinitely adjustable, for example by fitting the supporting memberwith a pneumatic or hydraulic piston/cylinder, wherein a lower or upperposition of the piston in the cylinder corresponds with a short or long,as the case may be, position of the supporting member.

In another preferred embodiment of a greenhouse according to theinvention, an elongated supporting member is pivotally connected to aroof half near one end and pivotally connected to an underlying support(for example a supporting beam) near a second end, said supportingmember comprising a rack which can be moved forwards and backwards inthe longitudinal direction thereof. The forward and backward movement ofthe rack in the longitudinal direction thereof in particular takes placeby means of a pinion, whose teeth mesh with teeth of the rack. Thepinion is connected to the support (supporting beam) by means of anadditional support, for example.

In another preferred embodiment of a greenhouse according to theinvention, an elongated supporting member is pivotally connected to aroof half near one end and pivotally connected to an underlyingsupporting beam near a second end, wherein the joint between the secondend of the supporting member and the supporting beam can be movedforwards and backwards in the longitudinal direction of the supportingbeam. In particular, the present greenhouse comprises pneumatic,hydraulic and/or electrical driving means for moving the joint betweenthe second end of the supporting member and the supporting beam forwardsand backwards in the longitudinal direction of the supporting beam. Thedriving means preferably include a rack which can be moved forwards andbackwards in the longitudinal direction of the supporting beam, in whichmovement of the rack results in movement of the joint between the secondend of the supporting member and the supporting beam.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to thefigures illustrated in a drawing, wherein

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a greenhouse according tothe invention, with the roof halves in the closed position;

FIG. 2 shows the greenhouse of FIG. 1, albeit in schematic sideelevation, with the roof halves in the open position;

FIG. 3 shows a detail of the greenhouse of FIGS. 1 and 2, viz. a supportof a roof half near a gutter of the greenhouse;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic cross-sectional views of one or moregreenhouses of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which illustrate themanner in which roof halves of the greenhouse can be pivotedindependently of each other between an open position and a closedposition; and

FIG. 6 shows a detail of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a greenhouse which is built up of side walls 1, afront wall and a rear wall 2, as well as a transparent roof 3 ofV-shaped cross-section, the two roof halves 4, 4′ of which are pivotablebetween an open position (FIG. 2) and a closed position (FIG. 1). Theframe of the greenhouse consists of upright columns 5, between the upperends of which horizontal open-frame girders 6 are mounted. The columns 5and the open-frame girders 6 support gutters 7, which are mounted on theopen-frame girders 6 on either side of the roof 3. Each roof half 4, 4′is built up of windows in a usual manner, a window including twomutually parallel longitudinal beams which are interconnected by glazingbars. The glazing bars, which are made of extruded aluminium, forexample, support window panes, which may or may not be made of ahardened glass or a transparent plastic, in a known manner.

FIG. 3 shows a detail A of FIGS. 1 and 2, in which a gutter 7, which isconnected to an open-frame girder 6 by means of a support 8, is providedwith a section 9 extending in the longitudinal direction thereof. Asection 10 of a roof half 4 is pivotally accommodated in saidlongitudinal section 9, which may be welded, clamped or screwed togutter 7 or be formed in one piece therewith, so as to be able to pivotthe roof half 4 from an open position to a closed position and viceversa. Said section 10 forms part of a lower longitudinal beam which,together with an upper longitudinal beam, glazing bars and window panes,forms the roof half 4. An identical construction is used for roof half4′.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the manner in which the roof halves 4, 4′ can bepivoted independently of each other between an open position and aclosed position. To this end, a respective elongated supporting memberor rod 12 is pivotally connected about a pivot 13 near a first end to aside of a roof half 4, 4′ that faces towards a ridge 14 of the roof 3.At a second end, the rod 12 is furthermore pivotally connected about apivot 15 to a supporting beam 16 mounted on an open-frame girder 6 andthe joint 17 between the second end of the rod 12 and the supportingbeam 16 can be moved forwards and backwards in the longitudinaldirection of the supporting beam 16. A rack 18 can be moved forwards andbackwards in the longitudinal direction of the supporting bean 16 bymeans of a worm gearbox 19, to which end the worm gearbox 19 is fittedwith worm gears/pinions whose teeth mesh with teeth of the rack 18. Theforward and backward movement of the rack 18 under the influence of theworm gears in the worm gearbox 19 thus induces the movement of the joint17 in the longitudinal direction of the supporting beam 16. Accordingly,the rod 12 will pivot about the pivots 13, 15, and as a consequence ofthat also the roof half 4, 4′ in question will pivot between an openposition and a closed position about its pivot 11 located near thegutter 7. Since each roof half 4, 4′ is driven independently of theother roof half by a combination of a rod 12, a rack 18 and worm gears,each roof half 4, 4′ can be moved from an open position to a closedposition, and vice versa, independently of the other roof half. It isnoted that a roof half 4, 4′ can be pivoted to any open position, forexample in dependance on the weather conditions, with this understandingthat in said open position, the roof half 4, 4′ is inclined at an anglevarying between −10° and +60° with respect to the closed positionthereof. FIG. 5 shows a situation in which two greenhouses of the typeaccording to FIG. 4 are combined to form one greenhouse, FIG. 5 areferring to a situation in which the roof 3 is closed and FIG. 5 breferring to a situation in which the roof 3 is open. The racks 18 areclearly movable between two positions, wherein the roof 3 is closed inthe extreme left-hand position of the two racks 18 (FIG. 5 a) and theroof is maximally open in the extreme right-hand position of the tworacks 18 (FIG. 5 b).

FIG. 6 shows, in cross-sectional view, electric motors 20 mounted oneither side of the open-frame girders 6 and the gutter 7, which electricmotors are coupled to worm gears present in the worm gearbox 19 fordriving the respective racks 18.

The invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiment, butit also extends to other variants that fall within the scope of theappended claims. Thus, it will be apparent to a person skilled in theart that one of the roof halves may be stationary, that is, non-movable(non-pivotable), whilst the other roof half can be moved (pivoted)between an open position and a closed position independently of thestationary roof half. Furthermore, it will be apparent within theframework of the invention that it is not limited to a greenhousecomprising one or more movable roof halves, but generally to agreenhouse comprise one or more movable roof parts.

1. A greenhouse comprising: a first roof half having a first end and asecond end, the first end pivotally mounted to one side of thegreenhouse; and a second roof half having a first end where the secondends of the roof halves meet together pivotally mounted to another sideof the greenhouse, wherein the roof halves can be moved around the pivotpoints between a closed position and an open position and can be movedindependently of each other around the pivot points in an upward and ina downward direction from the closed position.
 2. The greenhouseaccording to claim 1, wherein the roof halves, in the open positionthereof, are inclined at an angle varying between −10.degree. and+60.degree. with respect to the closed position independently of theposition of the other roof half.
 3. The greenhouse according to claim 1,wherein the roof halves can each be pivoted between the closed positionand the open position about a pivot pin which is disposed near a gutterextending along one side of the roof.
 4. The greenhouse according toclaim 3, wherein said gutter includes a section extending in thelongitudinal direction thereof, with which a section of one roof halfpivotally mates.
 5. The greenhouse according to claim 1, wherein anelongated supporting member is pivotally connected to a roof half nearone end and pivotally connected to an underlying support near a secondend, said supporting member comprising a rack which can be movedforwards and backwards in the longitudinal direction thereof.
 6. Thegreenhouse according to claim 5, wherein the rack can be moved forwardsand backwards in the longitudinal direction thereof by a pinion whoseteeth mesh with teeth of the rack.
 7. The greenhouse according to claim1, wherein an elongated supporting member is pivotally connected to aroof half near one end and pivotally connected to an underlyingsupporting beam near a second end, wherein the joint between the secondend of the supporting member and the supporting beam can be movedforwards and backwards in the longitudinal direction of the supportingbeam.
 8. The greenhouse according to claim 7, wherein said greenhousecomprises pneumatic, hydraulic and/or electrical driving means formoving the joint between the second end of the supporting member and thesupporting beam forwards and backwards in the longitudinal direction ofthe supporting beam.
 9. The greenhouse according to claim 8, wherein thedriving means include a rack which can be moved forwards and backwardsin the longitudinal direction of the supporting beam, in which movementof the rack results in movement of the joint between the second end ofthe supporting member and the supporting beam.
 10. The greenhouseaccording to claim 1, wherein a ridge of a greenhouse root is formed byan end of the first roof half and an end of the second root half.
 11. Aroof for use with a greenhouse, the roof comprising: a first roof memberhaving an end pivotally connected to a first gutter member at a pivotpoint; a second roof member having an end pivotally connected to asecond gutter member at a pivot point, wherein the first and second rootmembers are moved independently of each other around the pivot points inan upward and in a downward direction from a closed position; a firstmovable rod member pivotally connected to a the first roof member, thefirst movable rod rotates the first roof member independently of thesecond roof member; and a second movable rod member pivotally connectedto the second roof member, the second movable rod rotates the secondroof member independently of the first roof member, wherein another endof each roof member contacts and forms a ridge of the roof when the roofmembers are in the closed position.
 12. The roof of claim 11, furtherincluding a longitudinal member operatively attached to each guttermember, wherein the longitudinal member accommodates the pivotconnection between the gutter member and the roof member.
 13. The roofof claim 12, wherein the longitudinal member is integrally formed to thegutter member.
 14. A root for use with a greenhouse, the roofcomprising: a first roof member having a first end pivotally connectedto one side of the greenhouse and another portion of the first roofmember pivotally connected to a first moveable member; and a second roofmember having an end pivotally connected to another side of thegreenhouse and another portion of the second roof member pivotallyconnected to a second moveable member, wherein each root member pivotsaround the end thereof independently of each other around the pivotpoints in an upward and in a downward direction from a closed positionwhereby the first roof member has a second end that converges with asecond end of the second roof member to define the closed position. 15.The roof of claim 14, wherein the movable members cause the roof membersto move independently of each other both in the upward and in thedownward direction relative to the closed position.
 16. A greenhousecomprising: a first roof half having a first end pivotally mountedaround a pivot pin disposed near a gutter extending along one side ofthe greenhouse; and a second roof half having a first end pivotallymounted around a pivot pin disposed near a gutter extending alonganother side of the greenhouse, wherein the roof halves can be movedaround the pivot points between a closed position and an open positionwhere a second end of each roof half converge together and can be movedindependently of each other around the pivot points in an upward and ina downward direction from the closed position, wherein an elongatedsupporting member is pivotally connected to each roof half near a firstend and to an underlying support near a second end, the length of thesupporting member being adjustable.
 17. A roof for use with agreenhouse, the roof comprising: a first roof member having an endpivotally connected to a first gutter member at a pivot point; a secondroof member having an end pivotally connected to a second gutter memberat a pivot point, wherein the first and second roof members are movedindependently of each other around the pivot points in an upward and ina downward direction from a closed position; a first movable rod memberpivotally connected to the first roof member, the first movable rodcauses the first roof member to rotate around the first gutter memberand moves the first roof member independently of the second roof member;and a second movable rod member pivotally connected to the second roofmember, the second movable rod causes the second roof member to rotatearound the second gutter member and moves the second roof memberindependently of the first roof member, wherein another end of each roofmember contacts and forms a ridge of the roof when the roof members arein the closed position.